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I usually just take an old messanger bag my daughter didnt want packed with a a small block of WC paper, a watercolor moleskine book, my paint box loaded with half pans, a couple of travel brushes, and a pencil bag with drawing pencils and a few watercolor pencils. This has been ok so far. But, I bought a 9 X 12 Pochade box from Judsons with a tripod a few years ago, it has just sat unused till now. So I am working on getting used to using this box. I have been taking it out to the field behind my house and painting the trees and junk car as practice to see if I need to do anything else to the box. I think I have the bbox kitted out the way I like but I need lots more practice painting plein aire.

I was all set up at a paintout a few years ago when this lady appeared. She held a stretched canvas in her left hand. She used it to hold down a paper plate that served as a palette. She found a rock to sit on. That was it.

Have found the Julian too heavy for travelling. The Julian umbrella was also not suitable for because it doesn't break down into sections. It was expensive and the clasp system poor. Am in the market for new equipment
for oils, some good ideas here!

I have seen systems with a shelf that attaches to the tripod legs beneath the pochade box. They run about $60, but I was wondering if anyone had come up with way to DIY it. It would be nice to have a shelf for turp jar, misc stuff, etc. Thanks

I think that easel butler that Tich mentioned a couple of posts ago would be just what you are looking for. I have seen one being used along with a pochade box and he had his music box on it. And they are a lot less than $60. You could use on of your extra panel for the shelf part so you aren't bringing a lot of excess stuff. But then I guess you are not concerned about excess if you are into music add-ons

I was all set up at a paintout a few years ago when this lady appeared. She held a stretched canvas in her left hand. She used it to hold down a paper plate that served as a palette. She found a rock to sit on. That was it.

A grey wolf came over the hill at sunset and ate the lady. When we came back in the morning and looked where she had been the canvas had blended into the landscape. Only a small hair was found, maybe it was from the woman or maybe the paint brush. Lesson to be learned: avoid minimalism, you may disappear into your canvas...... this story and other stories can be found in "Tales of Plein Air Painters" volume II.

Well, that was my best attempt at humor. I'm not clear if id-art's post was true, or just a pun?

A grey wolf came over the hill at sunset and ate the lady. When we came back in the morning and looked where she had been the canvas had blended into the landscape. Only a small hair was found, maybe it was from the woman or maybe the paint brush. Lesson to be learned: avoid minimalism, you may disappear into your canvas...... this story and other stories can be found in "Tales of Plein Air Painters" volume II.

Well, that was my best attempt at humor. I'm not clear if id-art's post was true, or just a pun?

I paint mainly watercolors and not outdoor,due to health problems.But since my space is limited I use a camera tripod easel with Gatorboard(2 inter-changeable ones,one full size sheet and other half sheet size),quite similar to the one that Charles Reid uses.
Someone asked in the first page if any of these easel uses or offer the umbrella for sun protection.To the best of my knowledge the Guerrilla and the Julian French easel,both,sell the umbrella as optional accessory.
Here is a photo of my set up:

Bob

__________________"Good watercolors are visual poetry;word pictures translated into color images that sing,or sob,as they stir the emotions of the viewer."
-Robert Wade

A grey wolf came over the hill at sunset and ate the lady. When we came back in the morning and looked where she had been the canvas had blended into the landscape. Only a small hair was found, maybe it was from the woman or maybe the paint brush. Lesson to be learned: avoid minimalism, you may disappear into your canvas...... this story and other stories can be found in "Tales of Plein Air Painters" volume II.

Well, that was my best attempt at humor. I'm not clear if id-art's post was true, or just a pun?

My story was true! And she was able to set up in a spot you could not put a tripod.